Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-11
RrMsRKABLE CAREER.
CiitDeta. once the Queen of the Ute
IEdlnrs. NOW Hunted squaw
OF COiOrOw's Band.
lDorver Republican,

Dorver Republican,
lmong the squaws accompanying
Colorow in his peripatetic journeyings,
about the White River country is Chipe-
ia. the wife Of the lamented Ouray, the
hate head chief of the Ute Nation. The
career of this woman is beyond any
thing yet written; even Fenimore
Cooper, in his description of the
romance Of aboriginal life, falls
far short of anything like it in
his character sketches. Follow
ing Ouray's election to the chieftain-
ship. the first official act he was called
upon to consider was tine advisability
OF "a removal of his tribe from the
mountains Of Colorado to Utah, and in
connection with IA proposed treaty be-
tween the United States and the Ute
Nation he was summoned to Washing
ton. On his trip he was accompanied
by his wife. Both he and Chipeta had
iii a measure adopted the dress OF civil
lied lie. They owned their Cwn
ranch, their herds fed upon their own
pastures. and in essentials lived as
White people and enjoyed the comforts
OF civilized life. These facts preceded
the Chief and his conscrt to Washing
ton. and, with all the romance of their
wild mountain life clinging about them,
added to the heritage Of an ancient
and war-like lineage, they were re-
ceived with open arms by the high So
cial circles of the capital city. Every
where they were .fctcd, and the doors
Of the mansions in the West End
swung inward at their approach.
Chipeta was idoiiztd. She was
clothed in silks her raiment was the
fancy Of the beat eastern dressmakers,
and the tawdry finery associated with
life Of savagery was conspicuous by ITS
absence. The illustrated journals took
the cue, and the wife of Ouray be-
came lIbellcd throughout the breadth
OF the land by the pencils of
special artists. Sho was the rage
for ihe season she was in Washing
ton, and the cpistolary correspondence
from attacLcs OF the English legation to
the court journals at London referred
to her as = Mountain Princess" and
bespoke for her hearty reception
from the pcerage OF England should
She visit that country, which she at that
ume actually contemplated. As souve-
nirs Of her visit 10 Washington Cnipcta
ralIicd away with her quantities Of sill
scr plate, a portion of which was pre-
-ntod to h,r by the Government
through the Interior Department.
Shortly otter his visit to Washington
and the contamination OF the treaty
Caray died He was sinc.rel = mourned
by his people. and as an indication Of
tLcir grief, aud in conformity with
congratulated custom, the horses Of
the dead man were led up to the grave
and one hy one shot. All that was val
uablein earthly existence WAS to accom-
pany him to the happy hunting-grounI
ofh.srace al but Chipeta; and she, too,
would probably have accompanied her
liege lord had she lived couple OF cen
tmlcs ago. As it was, the custom OF
her tribe, by the greatness of her ex-
elted position, condemned her to life
Of perpetual widovhood. Any devils
ton. from this unwritten law would
draw down upon her head the maledic-
tons of the entire nation and she would
become an outcast, a pariah among her
people.
Eut Chipcta had a will Of her own
She had tasted of the privileges which
her Caucasian sisterhood enjoyed, AMI
when ,he opportunity occurred to marry
a handsome buck size did so, not stop
ping to consider the great fall thereby
IN the social scale As might have beei
tXuccted, tie head men OF the nation
viii unaniniiya decision, condemns
td both her aud her husband to ostra
cism. They had both violated sacred
law OF social government and they mut
suffer. With Ler new alliance she turn
al her back upon civilized life in eyery
form. Her silks and satins were di-
cardcd, and even her plato was meltei
down to make gewgaws for her hui
bands friends. Her stock was taken
from her, and reverse followed revere
tin she was absolutely forced beyond
the line Of tribal kinship. and she with
Lcr husband became "a wanderer.
This. doubtless, was hurried 10y tie
unfortunate mistake which she h.d
made iii locating & ranch on the new
reservation. 1t was an excellent sic.
There was plenty OF water, and bufiao,
mesquit, and gramma grasses gaze
nourishment to the stock. When the
lines were made dividing Utah from
Colorado it was found that Chipeh's
ranch was on the wrong side OF the lie,
and not in the reservation. 1t became,
therefore, legitimate plumber for he
settlers, who lost no time in dividing
the spoil.
Like the renegade Of her trDs,
Chipeta in her wanderings tended to
the White River country. There at
least she would be welcomed and sme
respect paid to her fallen greatnss.
She and her husband Joined COlorw,
and are now with him environedby
the military forces which the Governor
has dispatched for the protection of he
settlers of Garfield county.
Telegraphic advices say that sme
apprehension is felt for Chipeta's salty.
She was in one of the tents which vas
fred by Sheriff Kendall's party on ter
first visit to the Indian camp, and she
has not been seen since. 1t is no at
all likely that she has been haruad
she has been compelled to practically
take To the bushes.
Chipsta is growing old. She mut be
in the neighborhood OF fifty. Co6'ow
was once her enemy, as he wasthe
enemy of the peace-loving Ouray but
when her white friends turned orher
she sought straits in life whereshe
could find friends. 1t is not nov be-
lieyed that she entertains waike
spirit towards the whites, but, bling
with Colorow, she is in bad compny.
Once the queen of the nation, Sc is
now leading the life of common
tquaw.
Sweeping DIsfranehisemen.
1t has just transpired, says theScOt-
Gsh Lcdder. that close upon 700